Demolish Tariq Rajab Museum?
I am horrified. Blogger Hanan reports that there are rumors that the Tariq Rajab Museum has received a warning to close or be demolished, that they have no permit to run a museum.
This family has two museums, two fine, fabulous museums, and admission to the public is free of charge. It is a bright spot in Kuwaiti Culture. (I thought there was a movement out there to encourage tourism? This is where I take my guests! This is where we tell tourists to go!)
I have no WASTA my friends. First, can you confirm that the museum has indeed been warned? Can you make this go away?
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No One Is above the law ,
The owner has turned his private residence into a commercial enterprise and charging money for entrance , is there any selling of books or brochures inside as well?
nextthere will be pop corn and hot dogs and sodas , heck he might turn it into a full fledged carnival with cotton candy and smoked turkey legs and caramel apples . Why not add a carousel a clown and a gypsy palm reader to complete the circus .
why is that , is it a private house or is it not ?
I say send in the bulldozers ,
and while we are at it , there is another house in Qadesia area covered with bits of broken glass owned by an english lady ,looks like those tacky revolving disco ball , this house is not complying with the local building code , that house also needs a 3 days warning to comply or the Baladiya (municipality ) will send in the dozers .
Art or no art , everyone must follow the law. period
I loved the photos in your earlier post!
That would be a pity!
I love that place!
I don’t care whether it’s legal or not..
That’s just plain silly- schools go there for educational trips.
The man is keeping the heritage of Kuwait alive- didn’t he keep it all hidden from the Iraqis in 1990? onl to have it demolished by Kuwait? how ridiculous is that?
Perhaps another school owner nearby is jealous?
Al Qabas Newpaper wrote about it today– The ministry regret what had happen, the Museum will not be demolished.
Thank God.
This is whats holding the progress of kuwait . this total lack of respect for the rule of the law . I mean someone operates an illegal Museum and charges money for entrance and when the concerned Government department try to remove this violation ,like it did to hundreds of other violations ,the owner finds big wasta and gets the demolition order cancelled .
Now we will have others claiming that their homes are a Museum and start charging money for entrance and selling T-Shirts and Kool-Aid , peanuts and god knows what ,and no one can stop them because there is a precedent .
What kind of a reason is children go there , children can always go to the zoo, or McDonald’s ,why do they have to burdened with things they dont understand like islamic art.
it is another setback for law abiding citizens ,and i think the municipality should be smarter next time and try to give the notice of removal and execute it at the same time during a long holiday period so no big wasta will be around to hinder their work,
hey maybe during this coming nine day Hajj Eid vacation , it will be such an appropriate gift for such an auspicious occasion ,the removal of an illegal islamic art museum during an islamic holiday
Yikes! That Tariq was one of the first places I went after arriving. Others told me it was a microcosm of the Middle East and I’d get at least a smidgen of knowledge into the history and culture of Kuwait.
There was no charge then, and I’ve never been charged an admission fee since, and I was amazed to learn that the collection was private, and essentially the passion of one man. Wow. Where else can visitors to Kuwait experience Islamic Art & History like at the Tariq? I’m asking…is there somewhere else to go?
IMHO it will be a real black eye on the State of Kuwait if the museum is simply “bulldozed.” Maybe the current location is illegal (I wouldn’t know) however providing a better venue is then much more appropriate than simply shutting it down.
WHAT?! Nooooo… they can’t do that!!!
Daggero – you cannot be for real? “What kind of reason for children to go there” – well to educate for a start! Have you ever heard of culture??? Perhaps you are one of the millions who think cruising round a mall is the national past time……sad!
I hope the museum is saved………….i went to NES (many years ago) and have the greatest respect for the Rajabs for what they have contributed to this country – more than most in the areas of culture and education!
@ daggero
I hope you are being facetious.
FIRST – everyone please read Hayfa’s comment – the decision has been rescinded. Repeat, the museum evidently will not be demolished.
Second – Daggero – are you AdventureMan messing with me? You sound a lot like my husband, finding a contradiction, a weak spot and teasing me about it.
Yes. Yes, I believe in the Law. So first – is the Tariq Rajab Museum in violation of a law? Is there really a law on the books which it is violating? That is first.
Second, how can the Museum, such a treasure, be brought into compliance, rather than using a jackhammer when an optical screw-driver would correct the problem and minimize any damage?
Third – OK Daggero, you made your point. I believe no one is above the law. I also believe if there is a BAD law, the people have a responsibility to change it, or to grant an exception for the public good. Yes, I am being inconsistent. YOU are right, Daggero, and do you really want to be so right that you would bulldoze a national treasure to make your point? Can you have mercy? Can you be compassionate?
Aafke, Vixen, Hayfa (thank you for concrete information, Hayfa, and such comforting information), iRise, TeachtheMasses, Tallulah, Daisy Mae and Jewaira thank you, thank you for your support! 🙂
Jewaira, I think Daggero is only serious about poking fun at me in his comments above. 😉
phew! I love that place… above the law or not
it aint over until the fat municipality sings ,
hold your horses everyone , the article i read in alqabas newspaper today doesnt say the matter is over , on the contrary it gives more details to why the situation took this turn .
when i wrote my earlier comments there were alot of poking fun at the situation , but the more i thought about the issue the more i realised that we must not take side with the owner just like that .
lets give the municipality / government its due credit , here in kuwait you can do whatever you like in the privacy of your home .The policy of the state is not to bother the citizens or expats at all ,as long as you maintain the peace around you .Couple that with the sluggishness of the municipality or other governmental agencies here in kuwait and you almost have a perfect situation for whatever you fancy doing legally like using your home (whether owned or rented ) to make food stuff and sell it or run a business like law firm or engineering companies as we see in Jabreiyah area or even a museum or do other illegal activities like brewing your own hooch or hold wild parties and even charge for them like in the new year celebration . But always consistent with maintaining the peace ,which means your neighbours do not complain because this will open the door for government bodies reluctant intervention
That is what happened as per the article , the Neighbours complained about cracks in their house because of the two subbasements the museum has built without approvals ,which when you read Hanan’blog you will discover that the building is aslo used for rental as accommodation to others . I mean it is all mixed up functions .
Now back to the school / culture argument ,fine we all agree that kids should go to learn and appreciate arts and culture , now let me ask the teachers who read this blog did anyone check the safety of this building ? Does it have an evacuation plan and someone who is trained to help in case of emergency ? Does it have emergency exists clearly marked and working ? Is it insured for liabilities in case some one is hurt or God forbid an accident takes place ?
Parent signing permission slips for a field trip to the museum does not exonerate the organizer of these liabilities . think about that , i know it is technical issues but in case of emergencies they will become nightmare.BTW i dont sell insurance .
To have the owners son threatening about leaving kuwait and taking the museum ,is arrogant , Look buddy either you get your violations sorted out which easy by the kuwaiti way or IMHO hit the road .
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personal notes
Intlxpatr , now i know why i like your blog so much , because adventure man and i have the same habits , like the new saying goes ” If you like a woman’s Blog you gotta love her husband “.
Sorry to be making my point but thats not the objective of my reply , i just want to look at the other side of the argument whether it has any merits even if it is not popular
last , i am not the one who will be driving the bulldozer , i think you are turning to be a kuwaiti yourself by looking
for exemptions 🙂
Whats the location of this museum ? is it open on weekends ?
Ansam – oh dear. I am not skilled enough to read the Arabic papers – what do you see about this story?
Daggero – Even if you are right in principal, I would immediately and loyally support this family because of all they do – freely freely give – for Kuwait.
Yes, I would look for exemptions.
Mathai – here is the website for the Tareq Rajab Museum and the Museum of Calligraphy and the Dar al Cid, all three in the same area of Jabriya.
To get there, take highway 30. Exit at 5th ring, going toward Jahra, but don’t get too far left, stay right, take the slip road and take the first right, which takes you into Jabriyya. Take the first right, and drive down the street until you see a wonderful apartment building on your right – sort of Arabian Nights with Dignity Style. That is the Dar al Cid. Once you have passed the Dar al Cid, take the first left, drive (slowly, so you don’t hit the chickens) to the end of the street. The Tareq Rajab Museum is on the corner, you can park right in front or on the side street.
The Museum of Calligraphy is down the street in front of the museum, turn right at the end of the street, turn right again when the street ends and you will see a huge parking lot – the beautiful building that looks a lot like the Dar al Cid is the Museum of Calligraphy, and you can park in the parking lot there.
It is actually on the same street as the Dar al Cid, but past the Dar al Cid it says No Entry.
thank you